The Los Angeles Lakers’ quest for a top-two spot in the Western Conference playoffs hit another roadblock with their defeat against the Orlando Magic. The Lakers fell 118-106, with the Magic securing their first home win since February.

Despite strong performances from Luka Doncic, who scored 32 points, and LeBron James, who added 24, the Lakers have now lost their third consecutive game and are tied with the Memphis Grizzlies for fourth place in the Western Conference standings.

The Magic’s Franz Wagner scored 32 points and Paolo Banchero added 30, with the team outscoring the Lakers 34-18 in the third quarter.

This loss comes after a heavy defeat to the Chicago Bulls in James’s first game back following a groin injury.

The Lakers had envisioned a strong finish to the season, aided by returning players such as LeBron, Luka, and Rui Hachimura, but they are now within two and a half games of the second-seeded Houston Rockets, alongside the Denver Nuggets and Grizzlies.

Lakers coach JJ Redick acknowledged the team’s lack of defensive intensity and fatigue as factors in their recent poor performance. They were once leading the standings with an eight-game winning streak.

While the Lakers managed to cut a 17-point fourth-quarter deficit to seven, they failed to maintain the push as the Magic pulled away once more.

Redick also noted that practice time is necessary to reintegrate the returning players and regain the team’s rhythm and flow.

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2025/3/25/lakers-lose-to-magic-despite-combined-56-points-from-lebron-doncic?traffic_source=rss